A group of Chagrin Falls Middle and High School students showcased their problem-solving prowess on May 14 at the Girl Scouts of North East Ohio STEM Center during the 2026 Future STEM Innovators Summit. This event challenged young students from the area to prioritize collaboration and teamwork while addressing complex, real-world issues.
7th grade students Leona Bright, John Falbo, Emily Lyndall, Piper Reardon, James Simon, and Benjamin Koehl and Freshman Matilda Hessman participated in this event.
Phase 1: The "New Island" Challenge
The day kicked off with a high-energy Instant Design Challenge. The scenario: A brand-new island had been discovered, and it needed a functional infrastructure.
Instead of working with their classmates, our students were paired up with peers from other area districts. They had to jump right in, share ideas with new teammates, and build a solution on the fly.
The Middle School Task: Teams were asked to engineer a vehicle capable of navigating the island's tricky and varied terrain.
Industry Spotlight: Leona Bright, John Falbo, and Benjamin Koehl were specifically highlighted by the industry experts on-site. The pros were blown away by their inventive designs, their "out-of-the-box" thinking, and how naturally they collaborated with students from other schools.
The High School Task: The challenge was to create a power grid and at least two buildings. The catch? The grid had to be smart enough to power one or both buildings separately.
Creative Engineering: Matilda Hessman’s group stood out for their incredible engineering skills. The experts praised their creative thinking and their ability to generate power using renewable energy sources to keep the island sustainable.
Phase 2: The Showcase
After a morning of building new civilizations, the students moved into a showcase to present the projects they’ve been working on back at school. Using tri-fold boards, they walked the industry professionals through their Engineering Design Process:
Santa Spin: Presented by Leona Bright and John Falbo.
Doggy Wag-On: Shared by Emily Lyndall and Piper Reardon.
Replay for Kids: Showcased by James Simon and Benjamin Koehl.
Sip Safe: Freshman Matilda Hessman presented her award-winning pet water bottle device and app.
